Grantee Research Project Results

Risk Assessment for Manufactured Nanoparticles Used in Consumer Products (RAMNUC)

EPA Grant Number: R834693
Title: Risk Assessment for Manufactured Nanoparticles Used in Consumer Products (RAMNUC)
Investigators: Zhang, Junfeng , Tetley, Teresa D , Chung, Kian Fan , Georgopoulos, Panos G. , Lioy, Paul J. , Schwander, Stephan K. , Ryan, Mary P. , Isukapalli, Sastry S. , Di Giulio, Richard T. , Porter, Alexandra , Garfunkel, Eric , Mainelis, Gediminas , Kipen, Howard , Lee, Ki-Bum
Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Imperial College , Duke University
Current Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Duke University , Imperial College
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 (Extended to June 30, 2016)
Project Amount: $1,999,995
RFA: Environmental Behavior, Bioavailability and Effects of Manufactured Nanomaterials - Joint US – UK Research Program (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Chemical Safety for Sustainability

Description:

Most recent scientific efforts have focused on examining toxicities of manufactured nano-particles (MNPs) only in source materials. By not evaluating MNPs at the point of exposure, these efforts fail to address the relevant question of whether or not consumer-product-derived MNPs are of concern to public health and the environment. The proposed US-UK consortium, ‘Risk Assessment for Manufactured Nanoparticles Used in Consumer Products (RAMNUC)’, provides a systematic, multidisciplinary approach, including both experimental and computational tools and projects, for predicting potential human and environmental risks associated with the use of selected consumer products that respectively incorporate zinc oxide, silver, and cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

Objective:

The overall hypothesis of the RAMNUC project is that MNPs at the point of exposure for both humans and aquatic animals will substantially differ in both physicochemical and toxicological properties from MNPs at the source (synthesized in the laboratory or acquired commercially). These differences may have significant consequences with respect to MNPs’ bioavailability, alterations of immunity, induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, disease processes, and other toxicity measures.

Approach:

We will assess intracellular and extracellular bioavailability and toxicity of the selected MNPs, as synthesized and as incorporated in consumer products, using both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Tested MNPs will be controlled or well characterized for their physical (e.g., size, shape, state of agglomeration/aggregation) and chemical properties (e.g., composition, functionalization, surface chemistry).

Expected Results:

Hence, our proposed in vitro and in vivo studies will produce mechanism-based results relating toxic effects to MNP physicochemical properties. The RAMNUC Consortium will also include a novel human exposure simulation study that will produce realistic estimates of MNP exposures to consumers. Data generated from these mechanistic experiments will be integrated into the mechanism-based computational modules of two existing source-to-exposure-dose-to-effects modeling systems, allowing for rational extrapolation and generalization in MNP risk assessment. Built upon the inter-institutional expert structure, the RAMNUC consortium serves as a model for systematically addressing complex problems associated with MNP risk assessment and will generate results that will contribute to our very limited knowledge about health risks associated with the use of nanotechnology based consumer products.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 47 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 28 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

silver, zinc oxide, cerium dioxide, diesel fuel additive,

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.